I only vaguely remember what we did after the fight with the armor Heartless was over. I think we went to see my parents. I remember there was some shouting and I think Mother cried over me. I attempted to eat some breakfast but was only mildly successful. I think they were still talking about it when I asked Vander to help me get back to my room.

The early start of my day and the unexpected strain from the fight left me tired. I went and crashed on my bed and fell back asleep.

I slept until the afternoon. I was still in a bit of a daze, but I wanted to be ready for the memorial service that evening. I was going to make sure I was there no matter how tired I was.

Malik had stayed by my side the whole evening. He had been waiting outside my door after I woke up from my nap. I wasn't sure if he had been doing this on his own or if it was due to the argument he had with my parents. I noticed that the three of them would hardly look at each other. I hadn't been aware enough to know what had happened between them, but the three of them were clearly tense.

We held the memorial just outside the castle walls. The citizens gathered together while my family stood on a stage. We had anticipated Heartless could and probably would show up during the memorial. With so many hearts in one place, and me being there with them, it would be a tempting prize. Sure enough, Heartless could be seen fighting the guards throughout the service. The guards had positioned themselves around the area to create a border. None of the Heartless managed to get through. The citizens seemed aware of the fighting happening around them but barely reacted. It was a strange sight and a testament to how oddly accustomed we had become to the Heartless over the last year.

We held the memorial at sunset. As the sun went down, we lit candles to honor the people who were lost in that first Heartless raid. My father addressed the people in attendance. He spoke about how we would always mourn for those that were taken. He then talked about how we had learned from the experience and how we had come together to protect our home. We would continue to learn and grow to keep our kingdom safe.

The mood was quiet and solemn. We took a moment of silence before dispersing. I took that time to think back on Roperto and Nathan, the two guards that had tried to protect me and had their hearts stolen as a result. I'd often wonder if they would have made it if they hadn't been posted in that hallway. Whether or not they would have, someone else would have been posted there instead. I knew that, but somehow it still seemed like I was responsible for them.

My memories were still hazy, but I often tried thinking back to that woman the Large Body had taken me to. I didn't know who she was but the Heartless obeyed her command. Had she sent them into the city? Had she sent them after me? Is that why I had been taken alive? If that was all true, what had been her purpose? What had she been looking for? What did it have to do with me?

Ultimately, I just wanted to know how much of the attack had been my fault. The Heartless were drawn to my broken heart, but for some reason I had been a target even before that. I wanted to know why. I also wondered if no matter who had been in that hallway with me, they were doomed just because they were where I was.

I had no way to answer any of these questions. They came up now and then. I tried to keep myself productive and focused on the future. I needed to get stronger and worrying about that day wouldn't help me do that.

When the service ended, people idled there for a while. We remained on the platform to greet people who wanted to speak to us. Mostly I stayed back with Malik while Vander and my parents spoke to people one by one as they lined up. I figured they were more suited to the task of accepting and giving condolences. I stayed because it only seemed polite to at least show my presence.

Those who didn't want that brief audience with the king and queen made their way home. The crowd slowly started to thin out. They had left their candles behind burning on the ground, so it was still quite well lit.

I was very much consumed with my own thoughts and feelings. About everyone who had fallen to the Heartless before and after that attack. It was distracting me from thinking about the battle I had had earlier that day, but I still felt its effects. While Malik's Cures took care of any injury, my muscles were aching. I had rested for a few hours and had finally gotten to eat a meal. Even so, I was still feeling drained.

My weariness and thoughtfulness distracted me from how long we had been standing there. I wasn't paying much attention at all really. At some point there were some people speaking to my father and he turned and looked at me.

"Hey Vye," he called over to me.

This snapped me back to attention and I glanced at him. Father waved a hand, motioning for me to come.

I hesitated. I didn't recognize the people he was talking to, but they were staring at me like they were waiting for me. Malik nudged me with an elbow, and I obediently stepped towards them.

Father turned back to who he had been speaking to. It was a group of six people in total. There was a middle-aged couple standing with two children near them. There was another woman about the same age as a couple and a young woman about my age with her.

Father put an arm around me as I joined them at his side. I tensed up when I realized he was bringing me over to talk to them. Somehow that hadn't occurred to me until that very moment.

"Vye," Father introduced, "this is Ethan and Lynette. They were Nathan's parents. And this is Roperto's mother, Maria."

I don't know what my expression might have looked like, but I felt the blood run out of my face. I also felt my body begin to sweat.

"O-oh…" I heard myself utter.

Lynette had a rather blank look on her face as she stared at me. Ethan seemed stern and stiff. Maria on the other hand had a handkerchief to her face as she was drying tears.

I'm not good with dealing with people. I'm not good at dealing with their emotions. I don't know that there was anyone one else out there I wanted to talk to less than these three.

"Thank you for taking time to speak with us, Princess Vye," Ethan mentioned. His voice was as cold and stern as he looked in spite of his friendly greeting.

"Y-yeah…" I managed. "S-sure…"

I felt my father squeeze me a bit while I mentally kicked myself for my horrible awkwardness.

"We understand you were there at their final moments," Ethan went on. "We were hoping to hear what happened."

I just stared at him for a moment. I glanced up at my father who looked back at me firmly. He was obviously hoping I could do this for him. His hold on me was his attempt to show his support.

I probably would have run off if he hadn't been holding me. Not sure if he knew that or not.

I faced the group again and tried to brace myself. I cleared my throat a bit and started my story.

I told them what I knew. I started from where I entered that hallway up until they were both taken. I didn't know how much detail to go into. I didn't want to leave anything out, but I also didn't want to keep them too long.

No one else said or did anything. Maria kept wiping her eyes but that was about all. Ethan and Lynette were harder to read.

"And… and that's what happened," I finished sadly. "I don't think there's anything else that could have been done."

"But you made it through!" Maria suddenly blurted angrily. "You're still here!"

I flinched. The girl next to her faced her mother sternly.

"Mother, please!" she snapped. "We talked about this."

"Y-yes, it's true," I interjected. "I am still here. It's not fair. I know it isn't. Both of them are gone. Maybe they'd still be here if they hadn't tried to protect me."

I tried to stand up tall and face them as solemnly as I could. All eyes stayed on me.

"I can't make it fair," I admitted. "I can't say I can make their sacrifice worth it. I know that no matter what I do from now, it's because of them. I will be forever grateful and will never forget them. That's all I am able to offer. I am sorry for your loss and sorry that I can't do more."

Maria turned and rushed off. Her daughter watched her, looking agitated, but she stayed in place. Ethan and Lynette glanced after her as well but then returned to facing me.

I watched her sadly. I didn't know what else I could have done or said. It would have never been enough.

Especially nothing I could have come up with.

Father kept his composure. "As a parent," he said, "I can only imagine the pain of losing a child. I am indebted to your sons for protecting my daughter. As a king, I am also proud to know we had such great men in our service."

Father offered a hand and Ethan shook it.

"Please don't hesitate to let us know if you need anything," Father added.

Ethan nodded. "Thank you," he said. He looked back at me. "And thank you again."

He still sounded so blunt that I wasn't sure completely sure if he was sincere. Perhaps that was just his nature. Lynette stayed as still and quiet as she had been the entire time. Ethan took her by the arm and pulled her away. The two children followed close behind.

The girl that had been with Maria stepped closer and stood in front of me.

"I'm sorry for my mother," she stated.

"It's nothing to worry about," I attempted. "It's not surprising she's still taking it so hard."

"My name is Risa," she went on. "I was in training across the country a year ago, so I wasn't here when it happened. I just moved back. I actually transferred into the castle guard and will be starting tomorrow."

"Oh," I noted. "Maybe I'll see you around then."

She nodded. "Maybe," she agreed. She looked up at my father. "I will do my best in my brother's place."

Risa spoke calmly with her head held high. Her tone was polite, but there was something in her eyes that made her feel distant and disinterested. Part of me wondered if she felt more like her mother towards us than she was letting on.

"I heard you were coming," Father commented. "There was nothing but praise coming from your prior superiors. We will be glad to have you."

"Thank you," she nodded. She gave a slight bow. "I better see to my mother. If you'll excuse me."

Father and I both nodded and she turned and walked away. I watched her as she walked away. If she did have any ill will against me like her mother, she carried herself well enough that she hid it.

I tried to relax. I let out a heavy sigh with my father still holding his arm around me.

"That was bad," I complained. "That was so bad, wasn't it?"

"You did just fine," Father defended kindly.

"It was terrible!" I whined.

Father kept his calm and dignified demeanor. A true royal with years of practice under his belt.

"Unfortunately in our positions," he observed, "we do not always have the luxury of having easy conversations. Even with all the power and resources we have, there is really only so much we can do regardless of how we feel. We have to allow ourselves to feel sympathy, but not surrender to heartache."

Father faced me, putting his hand on my shoulder.

"Had this been a year ago," he admitted, "I would not have trusted you to address anyone in that circumstance. I called you over tonight because I had confidence you were ready to handle it."

I briefly thought about that. I don't think I would have trusted myself a year ago either. I may not have done well, but who knows what kind of impression old Vye would have made?

"I don't think I did as well as you wanted," I winced.

"Perhaps it was clumsy," he relented. "But what matters in cases like those isn't what you say, but how you say it. The most important thing is to show your genuine emotions. They know you were doing your best and telling the truth. Showing that kind of caring helps build the trust between us and our people. I could not have asked for more from you."

I had a lot of respect for my father and in the way he carried himself around other people. It was some comfort that he had faith in me.

I gave him a smile. Father pulled me in for a quick hug before he held a hand up to Malik, giving his permission to stay out of future interactions.

I went back up to Malik's side with relief. Malik was probably just within earshot, so it was likely he had heard and observed the whole thing. Whatever he thought of it, he didn't share that opinion.

Malik and I stood and watched as more people came up to share their thoughts with the king and queen. Malik glanced at the line that was still remaining. They had made good progress with it, but it seemed we could be there for a while longer.

"This can't be over soon enough," Malik said under his breath.

"Tell me about it," I agreed.